From conflict to cooperation: the effects of trait forgiveness on threat appraisal and proactive helping behavior

Purpose While workplace conflicts among coworkers are inevitable, there has been a notable gap in understanding how these conflicts impact employee behavior and the mechanisms through which they exert influence. This study aims to address this gap by examining the intricate relationships between coworker conflict, threat appraisal and proactive helping behavior. Design/methodology/approach The authors build a moderated mediation model that explores the role of trait forgiveness in shaping the interplay between coworker conflict and threat appraisal. Data was collected from 533 first-line employees using a two-wave study through a survey-based method. The data was analyzed using SPSS PROCESS macros and AMOS. Findings This study reveals a compelling insight: employees with high trait forgiveness, even when facing coworker conflict, tend to exhibit high proactive behavior at work, influenced by their perception of reduced threat. Therefore, trait forgiveness reduces the strength of the negative relationship between coworker conflicts and proactive helping behavior via threat appraisal. Originality/value This study uniquely examines how trait forgiveness moderates coworker conflict and proactive helping behavior, addressing a gap in the literature. In contrast to earlier studies that focused on conflict avoidance or resolution, this study shows how high trait forgiveness might turn conflict circumstances into chances for proactive helping behavior through lower threat appraisal. This approach offers a novel perspective on sustaining positive behaviors within conflict-prone environments, advancing the understanding of resilience in workplace dynamics.